On 29/12/2023 06:52 pm, Simon Mason wrote:

It'll never cease to surprise me (although it probably should have by now) that no matter how obviously not a cyclist's fault a collision can be, there'll still be a queue of people claiming to the contrary. Exhibit A:

https://cdn.road.cc/sites/default/files/styles/main_width/public/coventry-crash-may-2023-west-midlands-police.png

This is the footage, released by West Midlands Police, showing the moment a 71-year-old cyclist was left with a bleed on the brain, a broken shoulder and a broken ankle after a driver — who was jailed for 12 months after pleading guilty to causing

serious injury by careless driving — ignored give way markings and caused the collision.

As Traffic Sergeant Jordan Keen from West Midlands Police pointed out: "She [the victim] is an experienced cyclist and a member of a local cycling club, but it's clear from the footage that Freeman's careless driving when crossing the junction meant

she stood no chance."

And yet, the top responses to West Midlands Police's post?

"Wow the cyclist shouldn't have been going that fast though?!"

Correct. Those of us who were properly *trained* (taught) to use the
roads were always taught that one covers the footbrake on the approach
to a crossroads (even when we have priority). A last-second emergency (irrespective of who is to blame) shouldn't come as too much of a surprise.

"The cyclist should have been extra vigilant approaching that junction. The cyclist is the more vulnerable road user. Given the speed, it was probably an electric bike. That would have been 100 per cent fatal if they weren't wearing a helmet!"

Those of us who were properly *trained* (taught) to use the roads were
always taught that one covers the footbrake on the approach to a
crossroads (even when we have priority). A last-second emergency
(irrespective of who is to blame) shouldn't come as too much of a
surprise.>

"Cyclist is going way too fast. Probably breaking the speed limit but clearly not proceeding towards a major crossing with caution. Irresponsible."

Absolutely correct. Those of us who were properly *trained* (taught) to
use the roads were always taught that one covers the footbrake on the
approach to a crossroads (even when we have priority). A last-second
emergency (irrespective of who is to blame) shouldn't come as too much
of a surprise.>

Give me strength...

BBC and Channel 5 presenter Jeremy Vine, who cycles around London and posts videos of his travels on social media, has also commented on the footage too, saying: "Watch the red car. Watch the cyclist. Now ask yourself, 'Was the woman on the bicycle to

blame in any way for that collision?

Yes. See above. Those of us who were properly *trained* (taught) to use
the roads were always taught that one covers the footbrake on the
approach to a crossroads (even when we have priority). A last-second
emergency (irrespective of who is to blame) shouldn't come as too much
of a surprise.>

Should she have avoided it?'

Yes. Those of us who were properly *trained* (taught) to use the roads
were always taught that one covers the footbrake on the approach to a crossroads (even when we have priority). A last-second emergency
(irrespective of who is to blame) shouldn't come as too much of a
surprise.>

If your answer is any version of yes, YOU MUST stop driving and surrender your driving licence to the authorities."

When I want advice from the belligerent nutter called Jeremy Vine, I'll
ask for it, thanks.

Those of us who were properly *trained* (taught) to use the roads were
always taught that one covers the footbrake on the approach to a
crossroads (even when we have priority). A last-second emergency
(irrespective of who is to blame) shouldn't come as too much of a
surprise.>

https://road.cc/content/news/cycling-live-blog-29-december-2023-305873#live-blog-item-53461

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* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

JNugent <jnugent@mail.com> wrote:

On 29/12/2023 06:52 pm, Simon Mason wrote:

It'll never cease to surprise me (although it probably should have by
now) that no matter how obviously not a cyclist's fault a collision can
be, there'll still be a queue of people claiming to the contrary. Exhibit A: >>
https://cdn.road.cc/sites/default/files/styles/main_width/public/coventry-crash-may-2023-west-midlands-police.png

This is the footage, released by West Midlands Police, showing the
moment a 71-year-old cyclist was left with a bleed on the brain, a
broken shoulder and a broken ankle after a driver — who was jailed for
12 months after pleading guilty to causing serious injury by careless
driving — ignored give way markings and caused the collision.

As Traffic Sergeant Jordan Keen from West Midlands Police pointed out:
"She [the victim] is an experienced cyclist and a member of a local
cycling club, but it's clear from the footage that Freeman's careless
driving when crossing the junction meant she stood no chance."

And yet, the top responses to West Midlands Police's post?

"Wow the cyclist shouldn't have been going that fast though?!"

Correct. Those of us who were properly *trained* (taught) to use the
roads were always taught that one covers the footbrake on the approach
to a crossroads (even when we have priority). A last-second emergency (irrespective of who is to blame) shouldn't come as too much of a surprise.

"The cyclist should have been extra vigilant approaching that junction.
The cyclist is the more vulnerable road user. Given the speed, it was
probably an electric bike. That would have been 100 per cent fatal if
they weren't wearing a helmet!"

Those of us who were properly *trained* (taught) to use the roads were
always taught that one covers the footbrake on the approach to a
crossroads (even when we have priority). A last-second emergency (irrespective of who is to blame) shouldn't come as too much of a
surprise.>

"Cyclist is going way too fast. Probably breaking the speed limit but
clearly not proceeding towards a major crossing with caution. Irresponsible."

Absolutely correct. Those of us who were properly *trained* (taught) to
use the roads were always taught that one covers the footbrake on the approach to a crossroads (even when we have priority). A last-second emergency (irrespective of who is to blame) shouldn't come as too much
of a surprise.>

Give me strength...

BBC and Channel 5 presenter Jeremy Vine, who cycles around London and
posts videos of his travels on social media, has also commented on the
footage too, saying: "Watch the red car. Watch the cyclist. Now ask
yourself, 'Was the woman on the bicycle to blame in any way for that collision?

Yes. See above. Those of us who were properly *trained* (taught) to use
the roads were always taught that one covers the footbrake on the
approach to a crossroads (even when we have priority). A last-second emergency (irrespective of who is to blame) shouldn't come as too much
of a surprise.>

Should she have avoided it?'

Yes. Those of us who were properly *trained* (taught) to use the roads
were always taught that one covers the footbrake on the approach to a crossroads (even when we have priority). A last-second emergency (irrespective of who is to blame) shouldn't come as too much of a
surprise.>

If your answer is any version of yes, YOU MUST stop driving and
surrender your driving licence to the authorities."

When I want advice from the belligerent nutter called Jeremy Vine, I'll
ask for it, thanks.

Those of us who were properly *trained* (taught) to use the roads were
always taught that one covers the footbrake on the approach to a
crossroads (even when we have priority). A last-second emergency (irrespective of who is to blame) shouldn't come as too much of a
surprise.

Well said. As a motorcycle rider since the age of 13, I would not, having
seen the grey car pull out, have carried on blithely at the same speed in
the same manner as the cyclist did, but rolled the throttle back and
covered the front brake.

The cyclist appears not to have realised that she was invisible to the red
car, the grey car hiding the early part of her approach while also blocking
her view of the red car. Even then, she appears not to have noticed the red
car at all because there are no obvious signs of braking, or steering away
from the threat, or any attempt to take extreme evasive action by laying
the cycle down. What happened to the situational awareness demanded by the Highway Code, implicitly if not explicitly? Where was her duty of care to
other road users?

Anyone who fails to see any of these points should hand their licence in to
the authorities, and if a cyclist, get some road awareness training.

https://road.cc/content/news/cycling-live-blog-29-december-2023-305873#live-blog-item-53461

--
Spike

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